40-yr dev’t plan a hoax – Akoto Osei

Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Dr Anthony Akoto Osei has rejected the 40-year development plan being crafted by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), describing it as a hoax.

“If we cannot implement a one-year budget, how can we keep a 40-year plan?” he wondered.

The former Minister of State in charge of Finance expressed these sentiments on TV3’s Hot Issues on Saturday, October 17. He was speaking on the current economic crisis, lamenting that Ghana is heading nowhere under the management of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

But on the much-talked about development plan, which is being developed in consultation with political parties, Dr Akoto Osei said: “I think it is a hoax”.

He said if political parties are questioned for their honest opinions on the plan, their answers will not be favourable towards such a plan.

The 40-year national development plan is expected to take off in 2018.

The Commission is currently collating views from stakeholders to make the take-off a success.

The plan if implemented will be subjected to four 10-year revisions by Parliament.

Dr Akoto Osei opined that given the current style of economic management under the NDC, such a plan will not be helpful.

He claims Ghana has failed, for instance, to meet its economic targets in the past couple of years as a result of poor management.